A computer expert today told how a row over drinks during a first date led to him being arrested and left him with a £1,200 legal bill.

Kishore Nimmala, 32, says he has put off dating for life after arguing with his date over who should pay for the next round of drinks.

Yesterday a jury at Southwark Crown Court took just 53 minutes to clear him of theft, accepting his claim that he took his date's phone in anger but never intended to keep the device.

No love lost: Fakhara Sultana, left, expected to be wined and dined on her first date but Kishore Nimmala, right, says he is still struggling to cope with the trauma of the experience and pay off £1,200 legal bills

But despite his victory Mr Nimmala says he has been left traumatised by experience and struggling to pay a huge bill for defending himself.

He says he has not been on a date since February after being left emotionally scarred by his experience.

He told the Evening Standard: 'I’m just very happy to be cleared.

'But it’s not just the money I have been struggling mentally for the last seven months.

'I could have lost everything had I been convicted. I feel like I never want to go on a date again.

'I don’t think you can get the right person online. You don’t know who you are talking to, I mean, I ended up in court.'

He added: 'She said we would drink and dance all night, but she wanted me to pay for everything and I didn’t have enough cash to buy more drinks so she got upset.

'We had a heated argument. She took my money, I took her phone, but I never wanted to steal her phone and keep it.